Should I switch from Centurylink Maximum 1.5 MBPS?

I currently have internet service through Centurylink with max 1.5 mbps. Both the internet service and customer service are completely unreliable and so, so frustrating (.1 upload speeds . . . point.one.).

I have read similar threads from those with max 1.5 mpbs DSL considering switching to Viasat, but the advice was usually to wait for Viasat 2. I believe the "bronze, silver, gold" labels indicated Viasat 2 plans, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Unlimited Bronze, Silver, Gold is available in my area (at least upon entering my ZIP code). My area has a local company that is a Viasat dealer, so I'm going to test VPN/Google Meet there tomorrow 5PM central, as well as go over plans.

Before I make a decision, my question is: Is the increase in price worth the switch? I'm extremely frustrated with Centurylink, but I pay $35 / month. I don't mind paying more as long as the problems I'm having with my current service are alleviated, but I certainly don't want to pay more for an equally frustrating user experience.

My biggest frustration is that I'm unable to reliably use Google Meet with my current service. I work from home and need to be able to facilitate meetings with Google Meet. Currently, it's a miracle if I'm not booted out when only using audio. Forget trying to have camera on or share my screen. If I was able to facilitate and attend meetings reliably, this alone would be worth the switch.

I know VPN can be an issue with satellite, but I don't work on VPN often (and save most of those tasks until back in the office).

Work is my biggest concern, but we also use the internet for browsing, Netflix, and I run a website (I upload and work with large image files).

My biggest concern is paying more and getting a comparably poor (or worse) user experience. That being said, our household is currently very frustrated with the slow internet speeds (even just for browsing the internet).

Any help on the following would be great!

1. Does anyone with Viasat use Google Meet and do you have any issues?2. Fine print says bronze, silver, gold plans are "40, 60, or 100 GB of data usage, respectively, we may prioritize your data behind other customers during network congestion." What are these speeds like during network congestion? I've read .2 on the threads here......... (insert horrified emoji). Is this true?3. What negative effects do you experience from high ping other than gaming? Will this affect real-time video meetings?4. Fine print also says there is a $10/month equipment lease fee. Do you have to use their equipment?

Thanks for reading. I'm not exactly knowledgable in this area. Any help is appreciated!

So if you read around the forum here you will see that your mileage may vary but my experience since signing up with Viasat a couple of months ago has been pretty good. Let me answer your four questions based on what I have experienced. Let me start by saying I work from home as well and spend most of my days in online meetings.

1. I don't use Google meet but I do use Bluejeans, WebEx, and Skype depending on who I am meeting and all three work fine on my Silver Unlimited plan.

2. I got in when the limit was 150GB and I have not reached that during my month so I can't tell you what the slowdown is like but my guess based on past experience with other satellite providers that it probably really sucks.

3. I don't game so I am not affected by the 600ms ping times. Video works fine for me when video conferencing.

4. I think you have to use their modem but I think you have the option to purchase it outright.

I burn through a couple of GB a day but I also watch a fair amount of youtube during a day so I haven't faithfully tracked my usage as far as business goes. I will be on video calls tomorrow and I will track an hour long one and give the numbers to you. You can extrapolate from there. I will post it in another reply to this post.

Thanks, Stephen! When I search my ZIP, I find Unlimited Bronze, Unlimited Silver, and Unlimited Gold and not the Liberty you reference. Perhaps this is due to the change in plans/satellites. I will ask tomorrow.

I see in the post above that you will see a demonstration of Viasat today.

Viasat is a decent company and I recognize their honor is beyond repute.

I cannot say the same for some independent dealers that are driven to make a sale, even through deception, with no remorse.

If the demonstration and the "sales pitch" seems too good to be true, it is possible that the dealer is actually showing realistic performance and you have a reasonable expectation of enjoying that same experience with your subscription. However, one must be a wise shopper for this type of service. A single question should be asked when everything works just a little too perfectly: Is the demonstration being presented using a residential account or a business account? It is not beyond some less than totally honest dealers to present a business account and pass it off as a residential service. This would be a classic mis-representation of fact so I advise asking the question if you have any suspicions about the demonstrated quality of service.

I offer this advice because we sometimes see new customers come here to post their experience that indicates a bad dealer has lied to them and Viasat is always blamed, although Viasat had nothing to do with the lie that was told to the customer.

Keep in mind too that the service is a lot faster during the day than it is from 5 pm to midnight.

I am paying for up to 12 mbps. It isn't uncommon for me to get speeds beyond 12 mbps during the day.

At night, it isn't uncommon for me to have speeds around 1 mbps (Sometimes even lower) even when I still have priority data left.

I'm very happy with my service because I understood what I was signing up for. It sounds like you are doing more homework than most people. It's good to see someone who actually takes the time yo read the fine print.

Thanks, Stephen! That seems to be a common theme during prime hours. I don't love it, but to be able to work efficiently during the day is my top priority. And I barely get around 1 as it is (all the time).

I have the Freedom 125 and actually quite happy with the service. My beam covers central Michigan and spreads out over some of the Great Lakes so it never seems to congested here. Even during prime time I seldom get less then 6 Mbps and testing with test my net during the day I get speeds into the 20 Mbps. I feel so bad for the people that get such dismal speeds on congested sites.